Assam's Massive Eviction Drive Displaces 309 Families
Eviction drive in Biswanath sparks controversy, displaces hundreds.
The Assam government launched an eviction drive in Biswanath district today, displacing 309 families from Japariguri’s Village Grazing Reserve (VGR). The initiative targeted nearly 175 bigha (approximately 23 hectares) of encroached land, aiming to reclaim public property for future forestation efforts, according to officials.
District Commissioner Simanta Kumar Das reported that the eviction proceeded peacefully, with notices issued to the families on August 1, giving them 15 days to vacate. “All families have left the area, and many dismantled their homes themselves,” Das stated. The operation, which involved demolishing remaining structures and a large tea garden, deployed 600 security personnel, 20 excavators, and numerous tractors to clear the land.
The majority of the displaced families belong to the Bengali-speaking Muslim community, often referred to as “Miya” in Assam—a term historically used pejoratively but increasingly embraced by activists as a symbol of defiance. The eviction has ignited tensions, with the All Assam Minority Students’ Union (AAMSU) condemning the move. AAMSU General Secretary Kuddus Ali Sarkar, who visited the site, accused the Himanta Biswa Sarma government of conducting evictions in an “inhuman manner” and demanded an immediate halt until proper rehabilitation is provided.
Also Read: Evictions or Elections? Assam Govt Criticized for Targeting Minorities
The drive has also fueled polarizing sentiments, with several ethnic organizations launching the ‘Miya Kheda Andolan’ (movement to drive out Miyas), supporting the government’s efforts to clear encroachments. This movement reflects ongoing demographic tensions in Assam, where some communities label Bengali-speaking Muslims as Bangladeshi immigrants.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, in his recent Independence Day address, alluded to these tensions, claiming “aggression” has altered the demography of lower and central Assam, with similar efforts now targeting upper and north Assam.
The eviction has sparked debate over land rights, rehabilitation, and communal harmony in the state. While the government defends the drive as necessary to protect public land, critics argue it disproportionately affects vulnerable communities without adequate resettlement plans. As Assam grapples with these complex issues, the operation in Biswanath underscores the delicate balance between development goals and social justice.
Also Read: Assam Intensifies Border Crackdown: 10 Bangladeshi Infiltrators Repelled
